frus·trate
ˈfrə-ˌstrāt 
frustrated; frustrating
1
a
: to balk or defeat in an endeavor
frustrated her opponents by her ball-handling
b
: to induce feelings of discouragement in
Not being able to find a job frustrated him.
: characterized by frustration
Synonyms
Examples of frustrate in a Sentence
Verb
It frustrated him to miss so many games because of injuries.
We've been frustrated by bureaucratic delays.
Bureaucratic delays have frustrated our efforts to resolve this problem.
The lack of investors has frustrated them in their efforts to expand the company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
Several counties statewide face a lengthy, two-page ballot that is likely to frustrate voters and lead to lines at the polls.
—The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Tanisha M. Fazal, Foreign Affairs, 14 June 2018
Performance and reliability issues frustrate consumers, lower conversion rates and may drive them to abandon their shopping cart on the biggest buying day of the year.
—Bill Hineline, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frustrate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
But one of the smart pleasures of Walden is to watch its author gently frustrate the dramatic assumptions that filter in from A Streetcar Named Desire.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
Several counties statewide face a lengthy, two-page ballot that is likely to frustrate voters and lead to lines at the polls.
—The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Continuing to frustrate secessionist groups will not keep them from pursuing their ends.
—Tanisha M. Fazal, Foreign Affairs, 14 June 2018
Performance and reliability issues frustrate consumers, lower conversion rates and may drive them to abandon their shopping cart on the biggest buying day of the year.
—Bill Hineline, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for frustrate
Dictionary Entries Near frustrate
Cite this Entry
“Frustrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frustrate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
frustrate
transitive verb
frus·trate
ˈfrəs-ˌtrāt
frustrated; frustrating
: to induce feelings of frustration in
Legal Definition
frustrate
transitive verb
frus·trate
ˈfrəs-ˌtrāt
frustrated; frustrating
: to make invalid or ineffectual : defeat
the remedial purposes of the Workers' Compensation Act should not be frustrated by rigid technical standards—Palmer v. Bath Iron Works Corp., 559 A.2d 340 (1989)
Palmer v. Bath Iron Works Corp., 559 A.2d 340 (1989)Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share